Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

Henry David Thoreau

BINGO!!

Tuesday February 7 2012

I think it’s my turn to find those manatee.

Today is my daughter’s birthday.
I don’t seem to be able to adjust to not seeing her on her birthday
and having cake and presents.
So I needed something to do that would celebrate the
wonder that is her in my life.

After lunch, I set out to paddle around to the other side
of the campground mangroves in search of the manatee.
David said “maybe” he’d join me later.
It was kind of a gray day, but that didn’t matter.
I just love being on, in or beside the water.

I’m trying out a new trick thanks to RVSue.
Hover your mouse over the pictures.

I struck it rich and found them again
at the same place although in fewer numbers.

AH HA!

I thought I saw their dark shadows near the top of the water.

I AM being followed!

The only way I knew where they were was
by listening for their loud breathing in.

They are camera shy for sure.
Very hard to photograph.

You hear them,

QUICK try to locate them,

QUICK point the camera,

QUICK press the shutter button

opps they are gone.

David did show up as you can see from the pictures of me.
Out of about 70 pictures we took together,
we got a few fairly good ones.

I was out over an hour before David came and
I don’t think they noticed him so I was never able
to get any pictures of him with them. But I’m
sure thrilled with the ones he got of me and the manatee.

It was simply magical.

I felt like I was in a dream world floating in the kayak
not a sound but their breath.
Watching them rise to breathe and slide back under the water.
Just the manatee and we in the waters of the mangrove.Perfect!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARRIE!
WISH YOU’D BEEN HERE WITH US
TO HAVE A MANATEE PARTY!!

A nice birthday celebration with the manatees. From your description, it sounds like the experience of photographing them is similar to trying to capture photos of whales. I'll make sure to have my DSLR with me when we go out to enjoy the manatees (perhaps next winter); the shutter lag on the G12 will otherwise drive me nuts.

Beautiful! Isn't it funny how they are as curious about us as we are about them. If you sit really still in the water and let your hand hang over the side, they will come and nuzzle your hand. You are not supposed to pet them but they can pet you!